Screen stars in picture for Great Yorkshire

The filly foal and Kath’s 19-year-old mare are featuring in a video diary which will follow their progress in the run up to the Great Yorkshire Show.

“Mellamaid is home-bred and this foal is the sixth generation that we have bred. The line goes right back to the 1930s,” said Kath.

The video will show Kath preparing them to compete at the Great Yorkshire Show in July, an event that is close to her heart.

Last year proved to be an exceptional one for Kath in a number of ways.

Not only did her 21-year-old mare, Drummacy, win the champion brood mare, her foal was also champion foal at the Great Yorkshire Show.

Drummacy, who had been champion foal herself, did exceptionally well competing against much younger mares.

Kath said: “To get either champion mare or foal at the Great Yorkshire is fantastic but to get both was my dream come true.”

Kath, who runs her small yard near Borougbridge with the help of her parents, is also a judge. Last year, she was invited to judge at the Horse of the Year Show, which is an honour, particularly at the age of 33.

“I love judging. I’m not the most confident of people but when I get in the ring I just love everything about it,” said Kath.

At HOYS, she rode a total of 71 horses in the light, middleweight and heavyweight show hunter classes. Quite a task for somebody who is slightly built and often needs a twist in her stirrups.

Her co-judge, concentrating on conformation, was Wetherby-based Chris McGrann. “I was more excited than nervous, it’s such a big opportunity. I know Chris quite well and we have a similar eye. We both agreed that Robert Walker with Pride and Joy II should be champion,” said Kath.

Horses are a way of life for Kath and her parents, who used to be poultry farmers but now buy and sell eggs. Kath’s mother used to breed and show horses and there was never any doubt that Kath would follow in her footsteps – “I was practically born in the saddle”.

She learned a great deal through the Pony Club and is proud to say she passed her A test when she was 20, which is a considerable achievement.

Kath also spent a year training with Ruth McMullen, best known for training event riders such as Pippa Funnell. “She concentrates on your position and how you ride and that stood me in very good stead,” said Kath.

Now she divides her time between the breeding side, judging, showing and, during the winter months, doing dressage work with some of her horses.

All her horses compete before they go on to have foals.

Mellamaid did hunter classes and working hunter classes as well as dressage, qualifying for the novice regional finals twice.

Mellamaid and her yet to be named foal will shortly be featuring in the video on the GYS website (www.greatyorkshireshow.co.uk).The show runs from July 12 to 14 and they will be competing in the main ring on the Wednesday morning.

TO celebrate 30 years of competitions being held at Newfield, Mickley near Ripon, an extra event has been added to this year’s Spring Horse Trials on May 8.

As well as open and novice classes over a varied course, including water,ditches, drops and hedges, there will also be classes for young or inexperienced combinations, run over a separate course.

There should be something for everybody, say the organisers, with the cross-country course fences ranging in height from 1ft 6in to 3ft 3in.

Funds raised at the event will go towards the updating of Mickley village hall. For more details call 01765 635348 (evenings).

Chivola continues his Smart move

WHEN Vicky Smart said she was aiming for the top with her former racehorse Chivola, she obviously meant what she said.

Since he stopped racing to pursue a career in the show ring, Chivola has been on winning form.

Originally in training with Vicky’s husband, Bryan, at their racing yard at Hambleton in North Yorkshire, Chivola has been ridden by Vicky and they have had a successful time.

Last year, they won the Tattersalls and ROR Thoroughbred Show Horse Championship at Hickstead and Chivola also won the new Retrained Racehorse class at the Great Yorkshire Show.

Now he has qualified for the Royal International Horse Show in his debut attempt in an Open Small Hack class.

“He went brilliantly in the class at the BSHA Spring show at Barton Equestrian Centre,” said Vicky. They stood reserve champion to Robert Walker’s large hack, Genevieve.

“This was Chivola’s first outing of the year having had three months off after the Horse of the Year Show,” said Vicky. “We did some British Dressage competitions through February and March where he has moved up from Prelim to Elementary in just six outings. This training has really made a difference to his way of going in the show ring.”

THE Cleveland Hunt point-to-point is at Howe Hills, Mordon, tomorrow.

There are 123 entries for the seven-race card with the first at 1.30pm. The sixth race is the Point-to-Point Owners and Riders Association Club Members’ race, run over the extended distance of three miles, five furlongs.

YOU can keep up with all the action at the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials next week via your mobile phone.

Badminton has launched an iPhone App that will have all the news, interviews and results from the event and is free to download and use.

It includes a tour of the cross-country course and a course preview with director Hugh Thomas and British team member Sharon Hunt.

There is also a list of trade stands with a map plus a weather forecast.